Saria got up and headed for the door, Regina and I stood as well.

  I smiled at Karana in welcome when she walked inside. She was in teal body hugging mage robes and looked fantastic. Her movements as she walked in were sensuously predatory and more seductive than I remembered.

  Karana nodded to me, with a light smile on her face, and I felt my stomach plummet. That wasn’t the flirty welcoming look I’d been hoping for, and more like the way the other female dark elves treated everyone around them. Seductive yes, but missing the open flirty connection we used to have. Perhaps she was just tired? Wishful thinking probably.

  “Welcome back Karana, how was the…” I trailed off as Princess Heir Desirae walked through the door behind her. Any thoughts of talking to her tonight about us just fell by the wayside, and I tried to recover from the shock, disappointment, and prick to my ego. It wasn’t about me.

  Saria shut the door and walked back over to my side.

  I smiled tentatively in my surprise, and nodded to her, “Welcome Desirae.”

  Desirae’s return smile was cautious, and a little cold. Saria’s public face was restrained, but never cold. There was no denying she was a beauty, just like my mate, if a little taller, and willowier, but her face, ears, and hair were virtually identical save she looked ten years older in human years. I knew in fact, that the princess was three hundred, about a hundred years older than Saria.

  Saria said, “Sister, I’m surprised to see you here?”

  Desirae’s smile lost its coldness when she turned to her sister, maybe she was still leery of men, or maybe she just doesn’t want a human as a brother-in-law? Or maybe, she’s just as nervous as I am about meeting an in-law, and she’s got her armor up. Time would tell.

  Desirae said, “I’m quite recovered, thanks to the efforts of your mate and our own elders. Our parents send warm greetings. They were impressed with Karana’s report, your actions here, and the idea for trade. I’m here to help Karana defend against the six human mages, and after that to help you get a shop set up. We’ve already brought some stock to make that happen, though not much to start with. Our brothers or myself will visit monthly with more, and to see you. There’s more, but I’ve gone on long enough, haven’t I?”

  Saria laughed, which seemed to surprise Desirae.

  “Something to drink? I guess you both know our current status?”

  Karana nodded, “A drink would be nice. I’ve been in contact with Krenum every couple of days, and he just briefed us both on the last few before telling me to come here?”

  “That’s my fault, I set up a trap, a very warm reception for the king’s soldiers. I was hoping you’d help me keep the extent of a flesh sculptor’s magic a secret? People fear me enough, and I worry that Sera might have an even larger motive to use me if she knew my true capabilities.”

  Regina went to get more glasses, and then poured them both some mead.

  Desirae asked, “What extent are you talking about?”

  I shrugged, “Humans have a limited view of a flesh sculptor’s ability. As far as I know, they believe it can be used on people only, where you already know the truth. All organic lifeforms are malleable with my magic.”

  Karana smiled at me, but it was still disconnected. Which was really strange, because her face was the face of a woman trying to pick me up, or I’d think that if she were human, but obviously something was different. She wasn’t flirting with me, she was just… channeling her predatory and sensual instincts.

  I tried to suppress my reaction to it and display my usual confidence, but rejection was a bitch, even if I did have two mates already, that didn’t make her obvious change of mind less painful. Then again, maybe I was just being pessimistic again, like I’d been when Saria had doubts? Or was that false hope. My mind could go in circles all night.

  “So, you want me to tell the council I’ve set up a trap or something?”

  I nodded, “If you wouldn’t mind. I’d like to keep my true abilities hidden from everyone except for who’s in this room.”

  Karana nodded, “Desi and I were planning to set up a few traps by the walls of the city anyway, I won’t lie, but if they assume credit I won’t tell them any different.”

  “That’s all I’m asking, I don’t want to lie either, just… conceal.”

  Karana took a sip of her mead, and looked away.

  Fuck, time to be a man and suck it up. The room felt awkward, but maybe it was just me. I was also shocked she hadn’t asked me what my magical trap would do, she was definitely avoiding me as much as possible.

  Saria dove in and changed the subject.

  “You had other news Desi?”

  Desirae said, “Yes, we brought two more scout groups each, twenty light and twenty dark elves to help, all of them with war gifts. There is one other thing. You are indisputably the strongest warrior in Lelmalond. That said, our parents worry about you living here on human lands, even if in a house outside the city near our forest border. They have a request for you that might alleviate the issue and at the same time benefit Lelmalond with your prowess despite your separation.”

  I wondered how she knew about where we intended to live, but then guessed Saria must’ve included it in one of the reports she’d sent home.

  Saria tilted her head, “What is it they want?”

  Desirae said, “They want to send newly formed scouting parties to you, two at a time. They’ll serve as guards and be a perimeter force around your home under your command. In return, our most capable warrior will give them advanced military training. It will help you secure your home, and we’ll get back more experienced elves who may be better prepared to scout our much more dangerous forest.”

  Saria looked at me, and I nodded subtly.

  I could tell she wanted to do it, for both reasons, and was honored she’d asked my opinion. It would help her protect our family, and it’d give her something meaningful to do with her spare time while not leaving us in danger. I also imagined being an advanced instructor for elven scouts at just over two hundred years of age is a hell of a feather in her cap, if not as big a one as war leader.

  It also took away one of my worries, our relationship and raising our kids was important and very meaningful, but that would still have left her with a whole lot of time to kill. Regina had a staff and whole manor to take care of, not to mention assisting me with patients. Now both of my mates would have a fuller life.

  Saria said, “I’d be happy to accept, please inform them when you return home. I’ll show you the site of our new home on another day, perhaps tomorrow when I review the scouts and it’s still light out, before the enemy arrives. Desirae, it’s good to have you here.”

  Desirae said evenly, “Good. We travelled far today, I’m going to get the two scout teams settled and turn in. It’s good to see you too sister, and I’m pleased for you.”

  She turned her head, and nodded at me, as if to illustrate her last comment. I smiled lightly and returned it. I also decided in that moment her coldness toward me wasn’t because she disliked humans, and she was making an effort to connect no matter how small. Recovered or not, she was probably nervous about meeting an in-law from an alien society, and still a little wary of men in general.

  Karana finished off her glass.

  “I must go as well, tomorrow will be a long day between the council, and then preparing for our enemy’s arrival. See you in the morning,” she said to Saria.

  She put the glass down, and she left with Desirae.

  She didn’t look at me even once, since the moment our conversation ended, and she turned away from me. She hadn’t even said good night to me, just my mates. I was surer than ever now, that she’d decided against pursuing any possibilities with me. In truth, I could hardly blame her, she might be attracted to me, but what was that next to what she’d sacrifice to be with me?

  Except, hadn’t Saria given up as much? Still, I felt both rejected and horribly selfish in my thoughts.

  Saria sighed after they were gone long enough to get out of hearing range, and her voice was hard.

  “My sister is a wreck, what the hell were my parents thinking sending her back here to where she was abused for so long? Nothing could make it clearer, than the ten elves that were out in the hallway, her protective team is all female.”

  “She was? A wreck I mean.”

  Saria nodded, “I’m the cold aloof one, remember? The one that stood in their siblings’ shadows and focused on their training to the exclusion of all else. That was not my warm sweet older sister. I don’t blame her, it will take a long time for her to heal. You’ll see one day, and she’ll love you like our blood brothers, it’s who she is.”

  I smiled, “I think you’re warm,” I said, and then waggled my eyebrows exaggeratedly.

  Saria rolled her eyes, but she smiled too.

  I said, “She did seem a bit fragile, but often the best way to get over something like that is to push through it, and live life. She’s incredibly brave to be here. Perhaps fighting against the king’s men, in battle, is exactly what she needs to not feel helpless. Tough love.”

  Saria hugged me, “I know, but I hate to see her in pain. How are you doing?”

  I shrugged nonchalantly, “Fine, why?”

  Saria kissed me softly, and then her dark blue eyes were boring into mine.

  “Don’t lie to me, my husband.”

  Damn, she was so beautiful, “Wife.”

  Regina wrapped me in a hug too, from behind.

  I said, “This is very nice. James sandwich.”

  Regina giggled.

  I caved after a few more seconds, “Fine, I do feel rejected, but I’ll get over it, and I’m certainly not angry about it. Karana and I are good at being friends, maybe that’s where it should stay, once we get over the awkwardness.”

  Not that Karana and I would have the time for redefining our friendship and losing the awkwardness like I’d said. The enemy would arrive the next night, and Karana would be leaving a few days after that, a week at the most, along with all the other light and dark elves. Assuming we lived of course.

  I was going to miss her, probably more for her presence and friendship than the potential for more. Fuck, I already did miss her.

  Saria looked like she was going to reply, perhaps to tell me it wasn’t over yet, or that Karana ignoring me so rudely meant she was in pain too, but she must’ve thought better of it. She kissed me again instead, a melty soft sweet kiss full of love.

  I had to admit, it made me feel better, being loved does that.

  Chapter Twenty-Six

  Karana did as she promised the next morning, and though she didn’t go into details she said she was setting traps that might confound the human mages, and if not even the odds, at least lessen the odds against us.

  She also didn’t look at me, or smile as much as she used to, which I hated. I supposed I could have enjoyed the fact she was missing me too, and still wanted me, but I wasn’t that petty. I just wanted to see her sultry smile and twinkling eyes again. It also wasn’t enough, even if she did feel that way about me, she wouldn’t give up her life, which was fair enough.

  She didn’t offer an explanation either, which I suppose wasn’t needed. Spending any time together would just make it worse, and we’d both get over it, that was how life worked. At least I had two mates to turn to for comfort at the loss of what could have been, she stood alone.

  That was the worst part I think, not knowing if it could have worked, not even trying. But… outside of trying to catch her eye I wasn’t going to make it harder for her, or me.

  There was no open council that morning, we just met for a half an hour for last minute planning, and then got to work on preparing for the enemy. They’d arrive that night, and most likely attack the next morning. I wasn’t sure if I’d set off the trap when they got there, during the night, or in the morning right before they attacked.

  Regina and I were in Tam’s inn, and we were getting it ready to take a steady flow of wounded, just in case we were wrong and they surprise attacked us that night. There were also thirty volunteers this time instead of twenty, and I went over first aid again as a reminder to the old hands and instruction to the others. I also made sure the ten newbies got paired up with one of the other twenty with experience.

  Regina poked me, and when I looked up she was looking at the door.

  I turned in that direction and saw Desirae in dark blue mage robes coming our way.

  Desirae smiled, but it didn’t reach her eyes, I returned it anyway.

  “James, I wanted to thank you privately, without my sister here. Both for restoring who I am, and more importantly for saving my little sister from the same fate. It isn’t many humans that would save a strange elven woman from the King’s guards. I’m not thrilled she won’t be in Lelmalond anymore, but I’ve also never seen her happier or more excited about life. So, thank you for that too. You too Regina, my sister loves you both.”

  I felt a little self-conscious at the compliment and thanks, and saying you’re welcome didn’t seem to be enough, but it was all I had.

  I replied, “You’re welcome Desirae, and I hope you visit us often? You’ll always be welcome in my home, and I think Saria is determined to give you a lot of nieces and nephews to spoil.”

  Desirae smiled again, and this time it reached her eyes, barely. A small sign that maybe one day she’d be okay, not that I’d ever be able to relate to what she’s gone through, not really. I understood the psychology quite well, but that didn’t mean I understood.

  “I’d like that, and I will be. Once every three months I’ll probably spend a few days, or a week. I’ll be rotating months with my brothers for our deliveries. I have to go, Karana is waiting for me, we’re going to set up a few more surprises if we can.”

  I nodded in understanding, and she turned to leave.

  Regina snuggled into my side, and I put an arm around her for a moment as I watched my sister-in-law walk away and out the door. It made things easier. I’d never enjoy taking a life, not even now, but seeing Desirae and what evil men like the king had done to her, I knew they had to be stopped.

  I wouldn’t enjoy it, but I decided when I blew them all to hell, I wouldn’t lose a damned wink of sleep over it either. What was the saying? Some people just needed killing.

  Then we got back to work, the more I taught the volunteers the better things would go.

  It was a few hours later when Regina and I found ourselves at the gate with the council. Krenum and Desirae were there as well. The enemy had arrived, and were setting up camp in the field, just out of bow range like last time.

  The mages wouldn’t detect my trap. All life had magic in it, and they wouldn’t feel a thing until the grass field started to channel magic and form the spells. Less a spell, than four separate effects programmed into the life of the grass itself.

  The sight of two thousand enemy soldiers was far more intimidating than five hundred had been.

  I was tempted to set it off now, but when I asked Saria about it earlier, she’d suggested I set it off from within the inn in the morning, as they assembled for the attack. My signal would be the warning horn, that the lookout would blow when the enemy woke and started to prepare. Besides tactical and psychological reasons for doing it then, she’d also said with me in the inn everyone would have even less reason to suspect I was behind any magic that happened.

  I couldn’t argue with that.

  Still, I was tempted.

  The army outside our gates had orders to raze us to the ground according to what Dale had told us, so it was no surprise when an hour later the enemy hadn’t called for a parley. We shut the gates, and went to get dinner, and go to bed. For the second time since we were bonded in marriage as mates, I slept with my mates with no loving, as we were once again inside the common room of the inn. We figured they wouldn’t attack until dawn, but there was no guarantee of that.

  They were cuddled up tightly against me though, and even though Oceana was invisible, I could still feel her presence all about us. I kissed my mates, gave Oceana a mental hug goodnight, and then we fell asleep.

  Chapter Twenty-Seven

  “Master!” the loud wave of Oceana’s thought snapped me awake.

  I sat up wide eyed and fully awake, and my heart was pounding. It was dark, and the only sounds I heard was the steady breathing of my mates.

  What? I thought at the evil nymph.

  I admit, my mental voice may have been tinged with annoyance.

  “Danger. Assassin.”

  What? I couldn’t see a fucking thing, and now my heart was pounding and I couldn’t even hear my mates’ breathing, much less a silent assassin.

  I woke my mates, “Danger.”

  Crap, I wasn’t any better than Oceana at defining the threat, but I couldn’t see it.

  I fumbled for the lantern and turned the dial that would spark the flint. Before it lit up I heard a loud crash across the room, and then a scream of agony and rage amidst the snapping of bone.

  Right, Saria could see in the dark.

  The flame in the lantern came up, and I saw one of the new volunteers, twisted and broken and ground with a bloody dagger in his hand.

  Shit.

  I jumped over and crossed the large room and saw two others had been killed already and a third was still bleeding out. I pushed my magic into his body with the intent to heal, and my magic presented a solution for the fixes. I didn’t bother checking it over, he only had a few seconds left. My magic flowed, and his throat wavered as did the rest of his skin as it was regrown with magic. His blood vessels, muscles, and flesh in his neck was also rebuilt.

  I checked him over to be sure, and he’d be fine.

  Damn, twenty-seven volunteers. Fucking king. I wondered if there were any more assassins among us, but there was nothing we could do about it before they acted. The worst part was that he’d been questioned, and we’d been positive he hadn’t been enthralled to the king. He, like the soldiers here to raze the city to the ground, was here of his own free will.